Track working machine



F. c. STOWELL Z,ML@%

TRACK WORKING MACHINE Filed Sept. 5, 195-3 3 Sheets-Sheet l IN VEN TOR.

A'ITORNEY.

M F. c. STOWELL TRACK WORKING MACHINE MAL-w 9 l Filed Sept. 5, 1953 3Sheets-Sheet 2 hmw IN VEN TOR. WWMWMALWfiwWQW ATTORN.

L .L E W l O S c F TRACK WORKING MACHINE Filed Se t. 5, 1933 5Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented May 26, 1936 UNITED STATES ATEENT QFFEQE 7Claims.

This invention relates generally to rail working machines adapted to bemounted on a single rail, and more particularly to such a machine whichis universal in character in that, while it is 5 a portable, selfcontained unitary structure, it is extremely flexible in operation, andreadily reversible in operation, and the functioning tool is capable ofbeing operated at varying speeds for any given speed of the prime mover.My machine 10 is readily adapted to perform a number of varyingfunctions or uses such as those of a nut tightening or loosening machine(referred to in the art as a nutting or denutting machine) a drillingmachine, a grinding machine and a boring 15 machine.

While track working machines of the prior art have been used for nuttingor applying and tightening nuts upon the bolts that are used at railjoints, in positioning angle bars or plates such 20 machines have beeninflexible and of limited application. They were not readily reversible,and hence were not readily adapted far a denutting or nut removingoperation. A further objection to such prior art machines is that thespeed or force 5 of the functioning tool was not variable for any givenspeed of the prime mover. These objections and limitations in use madeit necessary to restrict it to a single purpose machine, and made themachine wholly unsuited to meet demands requiring reversal in directionand variable speed for any given direction and speed of the prime mover.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a rail workingmachine of the type above 35 referred to which will overcome theobjections and limitations of prior art machines as above set forth.

A further object is to provide a nutting and denutting machine for railwork readily adapted 40 for performing the operation on either side ofthe rail and having a plurality of independent manually controlledclutches whereby either the direction of rotation or speed of the toolmay be readily reversed and varied for any given direc- 45 tion ofrotation and speed of the prime mover.

A further object is to provide a variable or change speed controlmechanism employing constantly meshed spur gears which are dependentupon a selective clutching operation by disengaging and meshing ofvarious spur gears as distinguished from the gear shift mechanismheretofore employed.

Such a variable speed control is highly desirable as it eliminates thenoise of the clashing of 55 gears and eliminates the chance of strippingor injuring the gear teeth in remeshing in effecting the change speedoperation.

A further object is to provide a track working machine for effecting anutting, denutting, drilling or other operation in which means areprovided on one side of the rail for obtaining a balancing reactiveforce or backing up effect in direct line with the functioning oroperative tool on the other side of the rail. Such a feature reduces toa minimum or eliminates the side thrust between the supporting wheel andthe rail.

Other and further objects of my invention will be apparent from thefollowing description of the machine.

Fig. 1 is a side view of my machine in placeon the rail of a railwaytrack and with a portion cut away to show interior parts.

Fig. 2 is a plan View partly in section.

Fig. 3 is an end and sectional view.

Fig. 4 is a side viewof a grinding attachment.

Fig. 5 is an end view of a grinding attachment.

Fig. 6 is an end view of a drilling attachment.

Fig. 7 is a plan view of a drilling attachment.

Fig. 8 is a fragment view of the housing showing adjusting means fordirection clutch control levers.

When the same numeral is repeated as prime, it means parts referred toare duplicates but on opposite sides of the mechanism.

In the drawings the machine is shown as comprising generally a powerunit which, for the purposes of illustration, is shown as an internalcombustion engine, but obviously any other suitable type of power unitmay be employed. The power unit comprises a main power shaft 6,rotatably supported in the bearing 1, and a beveled gear 8 is mounted onthe main shaft 6.

A hollow housing 2 is provided for supporting and enclosing the variousmechanical parts for eifecting control of the direction of rotation ofthe functioning tools and also the mechanism for effecting the variablespeed and the mechanism for effecting the connecting and disconnectingof the power means. The housing is oil tight and is adapted to containoil in which the operating parts are immersed.

- The power unit and housing are mounted on wheels 23 and 30 formovement on the track 25.

Vertical adjustment of one end of the housing is effected by providing ascrew threaded support I5, the lower end of which support preferablyengages and rests upon the wheel 30 and has its hearings in suitablearms or brackets connected with the housing. Actuation of the screwmember 15 is obtained by the hand wheel 5 or other suitable meansmounted at the upper end thereof.

A plurality of supports for wrench socket drills or other tools areprovided, one on each side of the rail, in the same vertical plane andin 0pposed horizontal relation so that while the socket for a nut, e. g.is functioning on one side of the rail, a reactive force or backing upeffect may be obtained by the tool on the other side of the rail.

The drive mechanism for the rotatably mounted tool support is containedin depending arm portions 213-27 adjustably secured to opposite sides ofthe housing 2. A detailed description of the drive mechanism within thecasing will hereinafter more fully appear.

Within the housing 2 a suitable drive mechanism is provided forcontrolling the direction of rotation of the tool on either side of therail, and also mechanism for obtaining variable speed of the tool forany given direction and speed of the power unit. The reversibility ofdirection of rotation is a particularly desirable feature in a trackworking machine, particularly during the acts of applying or removingthe nuts upon the bolts. It will be understood that during theseoperations it is desirable in applying the nut to have the same turnedat a fairly high rate of speed requiring comparatively little force ortorque, but after the nut has been brought to position, it is desirableto apply an increased force or torque to force the nut securely toposition. It is a particularly desirable feature of the present machinethat all of the actuating parts are contained in a housing and form aself contained compact unit.

Referring to the actuating mechanism within the housing, this is shownas comprising three shafts [2, 4| and 3!, arranged normal or at rightangles to the rail and the main power shaft 6. These shafts are parallelto each other and have their ends rotatably supported in suitablebearings in the housing 2.

The shaft l2 may be referred to as a direction control shaft inasmuch asthe gear and clutch mechanism for controlling direction of rotation ismounted on this shaft.

The shaft I2 is rotatably supported in bearings 34-34 preferably of ballbearing type. Collars 3333' are provided at opposite ends of the shaftto prevent axial movement of the shaft 12. The bearings 3434 are carriedin extension portions 3636' forming a portion of the housing andpreferably detachably secured thereto. Annular sleeves 3535' areprovided in the housing extension and serve as additional bearings forthe shaft [2. Independently movable annular sleeves 38-38 are alsoprovided in the housing extension. The annular sleeves 35-45 are adaptedto be rotated within the housing by terminal receivers 32-32' havingring collars 3201-322) arranged to move the annular sleeves 3535 as forexample by a key connection. The terminal receivers 32-32 receive clutchenergizing levers 33'. The annular sleeves 33-38' are so arranged as topermit axial movement thereof along the axis of the shaft l2, in orderto effect axial movement of the bell shaped friction clutch discs IG|U'which are also slidable axially along the shaft l2. A spline connectionbetween the housing extension 3635 and the annular sleeves 38-38' may beemployed, it being understood that such spline connection restrains theannular sleeves 3838' against rotative movement but permits freemovement thereof axially of the shaft [2. End thrust bearings 3939' areinterposed between the annular collars 38-38' and the bell shapedfrictional clutch discs l0l0. The clutch discs ill-l0 are preferablyprovided with hub collar portions having bearings Illa and lllb in thehousing 2.

In order to effect axial movement of the bell shaped friction clutchdiscs iii-l0, cooperating eccentric or cam portions 31 are interposedbetween the annular collars 35-35 and the annular collars 38-38 so thata limited radial (rotary) movement of the annular collars 3535 bymovement of the levers 3 or 3 will effect a sliding movement of theannular collars 3B38 axially along the shaft [2 in order to effectsimilar axial movement of the bell-shaped clutch discs Ill-l0. Theclutch members |fil0 are mounted in a suitable manner upon the shaft 12so as to be rotated therewith, but yet so mounted as to permit freemovement axially thereof for effecting the clutch function. While theclutch members iii-Ill are referred to as bell-shaped friction clutchdiscs or members, it is understood that other suitable shapes or formsof clutching members may be employed.

A plurality of bevelled ring gears 99 are mounted on the shaft l2, andcontinually mesh bevelled pinions 8 on the power shaft 6. The gears 99engaging opposite sides of the power pinion 8 are driven in oppositedirections, the gears 9--9 being freely rotatable upon the shaft l2.

Friction clutch rings 4343' are preferably interposed between the clutchmember I0 and the gear 9, in order to effect a driven relation betweenthe gear 9 and the shaft I2 when the clutch member I0 is moved axiallyof the shaft in order to frictionally engage the gear 9 through theclutch rings 43. A spring 42 is interposed between the gear 9 and theclutch member ID, in order normally to disengage the clutch member I0and the gear 9 when such members are not in driven relation. A,similarspring 42 is interposed between the clutch member ID and the gear 91.Friction clutch rings 43 are also interposed between the clutch memberIll and the gear 9'.

Actuation of the clutch It for engagement with the gear 9 through thelever 3 will drive the shaft l2 in one direction, and actuation of theclutch ID to effect engagement with the gear 9 through the lever 3' willdrive the shaft l2 in the opposite direction.

A spur gear H is fixed on the shaft l2 in any suitable manner and asshown the gear H is arranged on the shaft intermediate the bevel gears9-9.

The gear I I meshes with a gear 2i fixed on the intermediate shaft Allwhich is rotatably supported in bearings, preferably of roller bearingtype, and carried in the housing 2.

Other gears 22 and 52 are fixed on the shaft M, such gears beingmounted, one on each side of the gear 2!, said gears 22 and 52 being ofdifferent sizes in order to effect a change speed operation incooperation with gears 13 and 53 with which gears 22 and 52 meshrespectively.

The gears I3 and 53 are rotatably mounted upon the variable speed shaft3| which is rotatably supported in the housing 2 in bearings 2929'preferably of roller bearing type. The pair of gears 13 and 22 and thepair of gears 53 and 52 are in continuous mesh with each other in orderto selectively effect a driving relation between either one of the gearsl3 and 53 and the shaft 3 I.

A double faced clutch unit 54 is so mounted on the shaft 3| as to beslidable axially thereof in either direction, but is rotatable with theshaft 3|. Manual control of the clutch unit 54 is effected by the clutchshifting lever 4, in order to obtain a variable speed for any given orconstant speed-of the power unit I. This variable speed characteristicis a particularly desirable one in applying or removing nuts from thebolts.

The variable speed may be obtained for either direction of rotation.

A further desirable feature of the variable speed apparatus is that thechange of speed is effected by a selective clutch operation whicheliminates the meshing and remeshing ofgears.

The variable speed shaft 3| serves as the direct drive means for themechanism adapted to hold the tool holding member 59' which serves as asocket adapted to receive the shank of a nut engaging tool, a drill, orother tool. The ends of the shaft 3| extend beyond the sides of the mainhousing 2 and has fixed on oppositeends thereof sprockets 2328. Thesesprockets in turn drive other sprockets |-5| and are rotatably supportedby suitable means in the lower end of the depending arms or housingportions 21-21.

The housing is provided with an arcuate segment I! having an arcuateslot or opening |'|a therein. The relative position of the depending arm'2'! and the arc portion of the housing ll is controlled and determinedby an adjusting bolt I8 and handle |9 threaded thereon. The bolt I8passes through the arcuate slot Ila and also through an aperture in thedepending arm 21 so that the arms 2l-2|' may be secured either infunctioning or operative position, as indicated in full line position inFigs. 1 and 3, or in retracted position as indicated by dotted lineposition of the housing arm 21 in Figs. 1 and 4.

The axis of the shaft 3| serves as a center about which the dependingarms 2'|2'| are moved. Preferably the depending arms Zl-Z'l' are notdirectly suspended from or supported by the shaft 3| but are supportedby or suspended from suitable lugs or projections 21a which engage anarcuate portion of the main housing 2.

The tool supports 5959" are provided with shanks or shafts 6|6|' whichextend through and are driven by the sprockets 5|--5| which arerotatably supported in suitable bearings at the lower end of thedepending arms 2|2'l. The construction and support of the shanks 6|5|'are such as to permit axial movement thereof so that the tool support 59may be moved to and from the rail independently of any movement of thedepending arm 2'! or of the drive mechanism including the sprockets 28and 5| and connecting drive 25 therefor. One desirable means foreffecting this movement is to provide a cooperating key-way and splinebetween the sprocket 5| and the shank 5| which will permit free movementof the tool holder 59 to and from the rail. The hand wheel 55 having acentral countersunk portion 55a therein is provided at the outer end ofthe shank 6|. Such arrangement enables the tool support 49 when itcontains a nut engaging tool to be initially adjusted and positioned byhand before the power is applied. The central -countersunk portion 550.serves as a seat for the drill feed to be hereinafter more fullydescribed in connection with Figs. 6 and 7.

In order to afford a more solid positioning of the machine on the singlerail, a steadying support is provided by means of a telescoping hollowshaft 56, one end of the telescoping portion engaging the flange wheel23' resting on one of the rails 25, and the other end of the telescopingportion being connected with the flanged wheel 51 positioned on theother rail 58.

It is believed that the nutting and denutting operation of the machinewill be apparent from the foregoing description without furtherelaboration.

My machine is not only adapted for applying or removing nuts but isreadily adapted for use as a grinding machine for obtaining an accuratesurface grinding operation on the rail at the rail joints as at built uprail ends. Such grinding may be performed either on the rail surface oron either side or end of the rail head. The surface grinding may beeffected under accurate control in either a vertical plane or 2directions normal to each other in a horizontal plane.

The adaptation of the machine to surface grinding is shown in Figs. 4and 5. A housing or yoke 89 may be detachably secured in any suitablemanner such for example as by a tongue and groove connection (not shown)to one end M of the housing 2, preferably adjacent to the verticaladjusting wheel 5. The vertical adjustment of the grinding wheel 65 iseffected by manipulation of the hand wheel 5. The housing 60 is shown asa yoke, generally U-shaped in end elevation (Fig. 5) and rotatablysupports at its upper end a shaft 62 having a threaded portion.'Suspended from the threaded portion of the shaft 62 is a casing 54having a threaded portion cooperating with the threaded portion of theshaft 62. The rotary motion of the shaft 62 is controlled by the handwheel ll mounted on the end thereof, so that lateral or horizontaladjustment of the casing 64 car rying the grinder may be effected byturning the hand Wheel Tl. The grinding wheel 65 is rotatably mounted insuitable bearings in the depending casing 64.

Means are provided for moving the grinding wheel lengthwise of the rail.Such means include a flange 392) having a sprocket 39a. thereon adaptedtobe secured in any suitable manner to the forward supporting wheel 39,and a sprocket 61a and the hand wheel 56 mounted to freely rotate on theshaft 62. On the end of the shaft 62, extending beyond the yoke 6|), adrive chain 6'! mounted to freely rotate on shaft 62, connects thesprockets 67a and 35a. Rotation of the hand wheel 66 reciprocates thegrinder 65 longitudinally of the track. Adjustment of the grinding wheel65 laterally of the rail is effected by rotation of the wheel 11 whichrotates the shaft 62, which in turn feeds the depending casing 64laterally of the rail according to the direction of rotation of thewheel 11. Adjustment of the grinder 65 in a vertical plane may beeffected through the screw l5 by rotation of the hand wheel 5.

The driving connection for the grinder 65 preferably is provided througha flexible driving connection 25 one end of which is detachably securedthrough a suitable coupling to the grinder 65 (see Fig. 5) and the otherend of which is driven by a suitable driving connection from the powerunit I such, e. g. as by the pulley 24 on the drive shaft 24a mounted ina bearing adjustably fixed in sliding relation on a bracket 59 fixed onthe power unit I (see Fig. 2). The pulley 24 may be driven from anotherpulley 24b driven by the power unit I through a belt 240.

The grinding attachment of the type abov specified provides a simple andcompact structure by which accurate grinding may be accomplished atvarious portions of the rail. Accurate grinding operations may beperformed by such an attachment that would be impossible ofaccomplishment with a portable hand operated grinder such as is employedfor comparatively rough work. Accurate surface grinding of the rails isan important factor contributing to the silent and smooth riding of carson railroad rails.

If accurate surface grinding is not required, the grinding wheel may bemade portable so as to be readily moved about by hand by merely mountingthe grinding wheel at the end of the flexible drive 28. By such anarrangement, the grinder may be moved from rail to rail or differentportions of a single rail, as determined by the length of the flexibledrive cable and the nature of the work.

In the laying of rails it frequently becomes necessary to drill holes inthe rail to receive the bolts. This condition arises where it becomesnecessary to cut a certain length of rail, usually at the end of a dayswork in a replacing rail operation in order to have a continuous anduninterrupted rail. The drilling operation if performed by hand consumesmuch time and is very laborious. A machine of the type herein describedis readily adapted to perform the drilling operation by provision of asimple attachment such as is illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7. The primarypurpose of the attachment is to provide means for readily controllingthe feed of the drill. A U-shaped yoke is provided comprising the rods6868 threaded at their ends to receive adjustably the cross rod 13.Centrally disposed in the cross rod 13 is a screw threaded apertureadapted to receive a threaded feed screw 12, one end of which is adaptedto engage the outer end 55 of the axially slidable shaft 6 l on theother end of which is mounted a tool sup-port or socket 59 adapted toreceive the shank E6 of the drill 15. The drill 15 may be fed by turningthe feed rod 12 by means of an arm M at the outer projecting end of thefeed shaft 12.

The drill yoke attachment may be readily secured in position forfacilitating the drilling operation by mounting the yoke upon the lowerend of one of the depending arms 2'i2'l. The depending arms 2'i2l' areprovided at their inner or rail side with integral lugs or cross bars 18having preferably arcuate bearings 69-439 (see Figs. 1 and '7) adaptedto receive the rods 68-63 respectively. The depending arms 2'i21 arealso provided at their outer sides with a cross bar or member H fixed onthe arms (see Figs. 1 and '7) on which the rods 6868' are supported. Thedrilling attachment therefore is readily placed in position by merelytilting the yoke and pushing it forward until the rods 68-458 are underand in engagement with the arcuate portions or seats 6969' in the crossmember '70, and then lowering the end of the yoke so that the rods 6858are seated on the ends of the cross member H. The ends of the rods 6868are provided with stops 6341 682) which are drawn against the crossmember H! by the feed screw 12 during the drilling operation.

In order to reduce or eliminate the side thrust between the rail andwheels 23 3ll, a reactive or backing up force is obtained by providing acheck sleeve which as shown is connected by a hinge 8! to the lower endof the arm 21. The guard, when it serves as a counter resistance duringthe drilling operation, is lowered so as to hold the shaft 61 in fixedposition relative to the rail 25, with the socket 59 in contact with theside of the rail to that on which the drilling operation is beingperformed.

In operating the levers 33', which control the direction of rotation,through the respective clutch members |ill0, it is desirable to providemeans for effecting a uniform degree of pressure in the clutchingoperation. It is also desirable to provide means for adjusting thedegree of the pressure uniformly exerted between the clutch and thedriving gears. For this purpose there is shown in Fig. 8 an adjustingscrew 18 threaded in the lug 36a on the housing caps 36-3 5. The end 18of the screw 18 serves as a stop for the lug 32b carried by the ring 32awhich is rotated by the lever 3.

Preferably, means are provided for holding the clutch operating levers33a in a neutral position, and also for moving the same from afunctioning position in which the clutches are engaged to a neutralposition after the operating levers have been released by hand duringmanual operation. For this purpose the counterweight 82 is carried bythe ring 32a, and is of suitable weight and so arranged that the lever 3is held in inoperative or neutral position.

Various changes in detail, structure and arrangement may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of this invention.

What I therefore claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:--

l. A track working machine the main portion of which is adapted to bemovably supported on and symmetrically disposed about the longitudinalaxis of the rail, comprising in combination a power unit, a power driveshaft parallel with the rail, an enclosed gear thereon, a housingadapted to receive oil, a plurality of shafts parallel with each other,and rotatably supported in the housing, each of said shafts beingtransverse to the rail and enclosed within said housing, said shaftsincluding a direction control shaft, an intermediate shaft and avariable speed shaft, a driving gear connection between said shafts, aplurality of arms extending downwardly from opposite ends of thevariable speed shaft in the same vertical plane transverse to the rail,one on each side of the rail, means for adjustably connecting said armsto the housing to permit independent movement through an are, aplurality of work engaging tool supports rotatably supported inhorizontal opposed relation, one in each of said arms on opposite sidesof the rail, and a chain and sprocket driving connection between saidvariable speed shaft and each of said work engaging tools.

2. A track working machine as claimed in claim 1 and including aplurality of gears freely rotatable on said direction control shaft,each of said gears being in continuous engagement with the gear on thepower drive shaft and driven thereby in opposite direction of rotation,a plurality of clutching means mounted on the direction control shaft torotate therewith but movable axially thereof, one of said clutches beingadapted to engage one of said freely rotatable gears and the otherclutch adapted to engage the second freely rotatable gear on saiddirection controlled shaft, a plurality of gears freely rotatable onsaid vari able speed shaft, a plurality of gears fixed on saidintermediate shaft, said gears on the intermediate and variable speedshafts being in continuous mesh, the gears on the variable speed shaftbeing driven at diiferent speeds, a manually controlled clutching meansrotatable with the variable speed shaft and adjustable axially thereofand adapted to selectively effect a driving relation with either one ofthe gears on the variable speed shaft to effect change of speed thereof,independent manually operated control means for each of the clutches onthe direction shaft.

3. A track working machine the main body of which is adapted to bemovably supported on and symmetrically disposed above a single rail,comprising in combination a power unit, a power drive shaft parallelwith the rail, a gear thereon, a hollow housing adapted to receive oil,a plurality of shafts parallel with each other, and rotatably supportedin the housing, each of said shafts being transverse to the rail, saidshafts including a direction control shaft, an intermediate shaft and avariable speed shaft all of said shafts being enclosed by the housing, adriving connection including a clutch between the direction controlshaft and the intermediate shaft and a driving connection including aclutch between the intermediate shaft and the variable speed shaft, aplurality of arms suspended from the housing one at each end of thevariable speed shaft extending downwardly in the same vertical plane,one on each side of the housing, means for adjustably connecting saidarms to the housing, a plurality of work engaging tool supportsrotatably supported in horizontal opposed relation, one in each of saidarms, a driving connection between said variable speed shaft and each ofsaid work engaging tools, and means arranged to permit free axialsliding movement of the tool support independent of the depending arm,to and from the rail.

4. A track working machine as claimed in claim 3 and including aplurality of gears freely rotatable on said direction shaft, each ofsaid gears being in continuous engagement with the gear on the powerdrive shaft and driven thereby in opposite direction of rotation, aplurality of clutching means rotatable with the direction control shaftbut slidable axially thereof, one of said clutches being adapted toengage one of said freely rotatable gears and the other clutch adaptedto engage the second freely rotatable gear on said direction controlledshaft, a plurality of gears freely rotatable on said variable speedshaft, a plurality of gears on said intermediate shaft, said gears onthe intermediate and variable speed shafts being in continuous mesh, thegears on the variable speed shaft being driven at different speeds, amanually controlled clutching means rotatable with the variable speedshaft and arranged thereon between the two freely rotatable gears andadjustable axially thereof and adapted to selectively effect a drivingrelation with either one of the gears on the variable speed shaft toeffect change of speed thereof, independently manually operated controlmeans for each of the clutches on the direction shaft, said controlmeans including a cam actuated member movable axially of said directionshaft.

5. A track working machine as specified in claim 1, and including aplurality of gears independently rotatable on said direction controlshaft in opposite directions, said gears being normally in engagementwith opposite sides of the gear on drive shaft, a plurality ofindependently functioning clutches interposed between the gears on thedirection control shaft and said direction control shaft, one portion ofeach of said clutches being rotatable with but slidable axially of saiddirection shaft, a clutch spring normally tending to keep said clutch inopen disengaged relation, clutch actuating means mounted in the housingabout the direction control shaft for limited rotary movement, a cammechanism interposed between said clutch actuating means and the clutchwhereby upon partial rotation of said means the clutch is moved axiallyagainst the spring pressure to obtain driving relation through saidclutch.

6. A power operated track working machine, the main portion of which isadapted to be movably supported on and symmetrically disposedtransversely of the longitudinal axis of the rail comprising a powerunit having a power drive shaft and a beveled gear fixed thereon, anenclosed housing, bearings in said housing for said power shaft, adirection control shaft normal to said power shaft having bearings inthe housing, a spur gear fixed on the direction control shaft centrallythereof, bevel gears rotatably mounted on said direction control shaftone on each side of said spur gear, said bevel gears last named being incontinuous mesh with said bevel gear on the power shaft, a plurality ofdirection control clutches, each of said clutches being interposedbetween each of said bevel gears respectively and the direction controlshaft, one portion of each of the clutches being mounted to rotate withthe direction control shaft and movable axially thereof, a sleevedisposed about the direction control shaft and mounted for limitedrotary movement, cam mechanism controlled by said sleeve and arranged toactuate the clutch, manual control means extending from the housing forrotating said sleeve to control the clutching operation, a driven shaftparallel with the direction control shaft and having bearings in thehousing, a driving connection between the direction shaft and saiddriven shaft, the ends of the driven shaft extending beyond the housingand a plurality of nut actuating means driven from said shaft one fromeach of the projecting shaft ends, whereby the nuts on either side ofthe rail may be either applied or removed.

7. A track working machine as defined in claim 1 and including aplurality of gears independently rotatable on said direction controlshaft in opposite directions, said gears being normally in engagementwith opposite sides of the gear on the drive shaft, a plurality ofindependently functioning clutches interposed between the gears on thedirection control shaft and said direction control shaft, one portion ofeach of said clutches being rotatable with but slidable axially of saiddirection shaft, a clutch spring normally tending to keep said clutch inopen disengaged relation, clutch actuating means mounted in the housingabout the direction control shaft for limited rotary movement, a cammechanism interposed between said clutch actuating means and the clutchwhereby upon partial rotation of said means the clutch is moved axiallyagainst the spring pressure to obtain driving relation through saidclutch, and including manual actuating means for moving said clutchactuating means, an adjustable stop to limit the movement of said manualactuating means and to regulate the degree of clutching engagementagainst the spring pressure.

FRANK C. STOW-ELL.

